The Americans have romped through the field in winning all six games by a combined margin of 31-1, and haven’t allowed a goal since the second period of a tournament-opening 5-1 win over Czechia. The two nations have met in all but one Olympic final — the 2006 Turin Games won by Canada — since women’s hockey made its debut at the 1998 Nagano Games.
The 36-year-old Knight has already announced these will be her USA Hockey record fifth and final Games, with a shot at adding a second gold medal to go with her three silvers. The game is being played a day after Knight proposed to U.S. speedskater Brittany Bowe.
The defending Olympic champion Canadians have shown signs of age during a tournament in which they dropped a 5-0 preliminary round decision against the U.S., and eked into the final with a 2-1 win over Switzerland.
The loss to the Americans was the most lopsided and also the first time the Canadian women were shut out in Olympic play.
Canada has captain Marie-Philip Poulin back in the lineup after missing two games — including the loss to the U.S. — with a right knee injury.
The Swiss faced off against Group B-winner Sweden in the bronze medal game earlier in the day.
